Question

read the excerpt from \the environmental ethic.\
mother earth... is no more than the commonality of organisms and the physical environment they maintain with each passing moment, an environment that will destabilize and turn lethal if the organisms are disturbed too much.... to disregard the diversity of life is to risk catapulting ourselves into an alien environment. we will have become like the pilot whales that inexplicably beach themselves on new england shores.
which of the following choices best expresses the type of appeal wilson uses in this passage?
the author uses logos to develop his argument by providing factual information about pilot whales in new england.
the author uses logos to develop his argument by gaining sympathy for the pilot whales in new england.
the author uses pathos to develop his argument by including emotionally charged language to evoke a response.
the author uses pathos to develop his argument by chastising the reader for the destruction of the environment.

Explanation:

Pathos is an appeal to emotion. The passage uses phrases like "destabilize and turn lethal" and the image of pilot whales beaching (which is an emotionally charged image) to evoke a response. Logos is an appeal to logic/fact - there is no factual information about pilot whales (like their population decline stats etc.). Also, there is no chastisement of the reader (no "you are doing wrong" statements directly to the reader). The author is using emotionally charged language (pathos) to make the reader think about the consequences of disregarding biodiversity.

Answer:

The author uses pathos to develop his argument by including emotionally charged language to evoke a response.